We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • We Were Soldiers Once and Young
  • We were ROTC graduates together, but he gave his life for our country
  • We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam
  • Gripping true to life...
  • Story of Determination and Sacrifice
We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam
Harold G. Moore , and Joseph L. Galloway
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Vietnam WarVietnam War | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Vietnam | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679411585
Release Date: 1992-10-20

Amazon.com

In the first significant engagement between American troops and the Viet Cong, 450 U.S. soldiers found themselves surrounded and outnumbered by their enemy. This book tells the story of how they battled between October 23 and November 26, 1965. Its prose is gritty, not artful, delivering a powerful punch of here-and-now descriptions that could only have been written by people actually on the scene. In fact, they were: Harold Moore commanded the men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, who did most of the fighting, and Joseph Galloway was the only reporter present throughout the battle's 34 harrowing days. We Were Soldiers Once... combines their memories with more than 100 in-depth interviews with survivors on both sides. The Battle of Ia Drang also highlights a technological advance that would play an enormous role in the rest of the war: this was perhaps the first place where helicopter-based, air-mobile operations demonstrated their combat potential. At bottom, however, this is a tale of heroes and heroism, some acts writ large, others probably forgotten but for this telling. It was a bestseller when first published, and remains one of the better books available on combat during the Vietnam War. --John J. Miller

Book Description

Each year, the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless for reading by all Marines. The Commandant's choice for 1993 was We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young.
In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War.
How these men persevered--sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up--makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars We Were Soldiers Once and Young.......2007-09-24

This book is the best reflection of some of my personal experiences in Vietnam that I have read. If one really wants to truly know what it was like ,read this book. I especially like the fact that Hal Moore is a true soldier's soldier.These kind of leaders are special men and quickly earn the respect of their men. I also liked the fact of his follow up, after coming home, with the familys of the men he lost. The thumnail sketch at the end of the book of each surviving man shows how much he thought of his troops !!

5 out of 5 stars We were ROTC graduates together, but he gave his life for our country.......2007-05-13

The book is an excellent story about the glory and the gore of any war. I only recently discovered that one of the company commanders in this story was a fellow classmate of mine. Col. Moore gave this person high praise for his leadership skills in battle. My friend survived this conflict but went on to give his life on his second, and VOLUNTARY, tour of duty in Vietnam. And he was a foreign born, naturalized citizen of this, his adopted country, as well.

4 out of 5 stars We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam.......2007-01-10

For a clear and comprehensive understanding of what a major battle looked like from the ground and from both sides of a conflict, this is an highly informative book. It's detailed depiction leaves one with a deeper understanding of how horrible war really is and just what we ask soldiers to do when we send them to fight for their countries.

5 out of 5 stars Gripping true to life..........2007-01-04

I finished the book over a month ago-I usually don't review at all-
& especially with the top review from Ramon A. Nadal who participated
in the battle-[much respect]
However I thought it was a pretty even-handed account of the battle-policies of the time & emotional content wasn't overdone.
I prefer documentery style books/movies etc...

It wasn't masked by any 60's rhetoric of the times-
which is nice-altho it was very "in the moment".

I wanted to get a feel for real combat-as opposed to soldiers as numbers- as Im actively opposing aggressive wars in Afghanistan & Iraq.

John Findlay

5 out of 5 stars Story of Determination and Sacrifice.......2006-12-12

Books come to me in some odd ways. While walking through a small bookstore in Newark Penn Station, not necessarilly intent on buying a book, I found a copy of We Were Soldiers Once, on the bottom shelf. Having seen the movie by Mel Gibson, I was intrigued. Whenever possible, after visiting Hollywood for history, I always go back to the history to discover the gaps, the real interpretations, and unltimately, what really happened.

In this case, I am very glad I picked it up off that bottom shelf.

For anyone looking for a glamourized version of war, this is not it. Throughout the narrative each soldier who fell is mentioned, where they were from, their kin, and how they died. There are places where each paragraph for a number of pages references a fallen comrade. You can't help but feel connected to those brave men, especially when you read of their hometowns... places you recognize.

For the first major combat operation of the Vietnam War, it certainly defined the war. And for those were thrown into La Drang, it is an experience they cannot forget. Despite being a detailed account of the battle, with all the nuances that would make a military historian proud, I couldn't put it down. In fact, in more than one occasion, I resented my train for arriving on schedule.

Equally impressive was the time devoted to the Vietnamese perspective. We conveniently think of our enemies as marching robots, but if anything, Col. Moore paints a picture of an enemy that was struggling with the difficulties of battle and the realities of the battlefield.

If you are interested in a highly engaging battle account, especially of a battle so pivotal in the history of our involvement in Vietnam. And if, as a background, you are intrigued with how our military strategy evolved in such a short period - from amassing troops to using air cover, this is a book you will want to read.

Finally, if you are simply interested in learning about the men who gave the last full measure of their devotion to their fellow soldiers and their country, pick it up. Don't let this volume sit on the bottom shelf of a bookstore.
The Bat House Builder's Handbook, Completely Revised and Updated
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Bat House Builder's Handbook
  • This Guide Is Worth Buying
  • Bat House Builder's Book
  • Good houses, could use variety
  • great tool for any bathouse builder
The Bat House Builder's Handbook, Completely Revised and Updated
Merlin D. Tuttle , Mark Kiser , and Selena Kiser
Manufacturer: Bat Conservation International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0974237914

Book Description

Since 1994, The Bat House Builder's Handbook has been the definitive source for bat house information. This new edition has been completely revised to incorporate the latest research on improving the success rates for bat houses. It updates the original bat house plans and includes a new "rocket box" design, along with mounting suggestions, tips for experimentation, frequently asked bat house questions, and information about bats most likely to use bat houses.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Bat House Builder's Handbook.......2007-04-05

My grand daughter's are anxious to get started building! I bought this and the Stokes Guide to Bats. They love the books. Easy to use and with a little help 8 & 10 years-old understand the blueprints.

5 out of 5 stars This Guide Is Worth Buying.......2007-03-14

I was a bit annoyed to open the package from Amazon and see this glorified pamphlet inside. "There goes ten bucks!" I thought. Don't let the size fool you, though. When I opened the booklet and started flipping through, I saw that it really is an excellent guide. It is far superior to anything else I have seen on the subject. I have seen bat houses for sale in my area that do not come close to meeting the well researched guidelines described in this book. Worth buying, definitely. I just wanted to combat the mosquitos in my neighborhood -- now I will likely join the Bat Conservancy and build houses for any friends who ask.

3 out of 5 stars Bat House Builder's Book.......2006-11-06

Lots of good information in here. This book went into detail that I'd never even thought about. Definitely worth a buy if you want a good house that will attract bats.

4 out of 5 stars Good houses, could use variety.......2004-09-28

Maybe I'm too sold on what's marketed as variety.

I agree with what other reviewers have said, that these are good bathouses and the instructions are easy to follow. I just wish there were a little more variety in terms of design.

The book, by the way, over and above the houses does have some reference information on bats including where to put the houses. That was helpful.

If you're into bats, and would like to make your own houses, this is the book I would recommend.

5 out of 5 stars great tool for any bathouse builder.......2004-03-08

This is a very concise and thorough book on how to construct a successful bat house.
Bats at the Beach
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • truly unique
  • Sweet sweet book
  • Pull up the drink umbrellas, and don't forget your moontan lotion
  • so charming
  • A rollicking, fun rhyme blends with fun drawings and appealing bat-inspired facts to create a winning tale.
Bats at the Beach
Brian Lies
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

FictionFiction | Mammals | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 061855744X

Book Description

Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach: the night is just perfect for bats at the beach! So pack your buckets, banjos, and blanketsdon't forget the moon-tan lotionand wing with this bunch of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet. Brian Lies's enchanting art and cheery beachside verse will inspire bedtime imaginations again and again. Come visit a bedazzling world of moonlight, firelight, and . . . bats!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars truly unique.......2007-07-22

this is lovely story and the illustrations are special -
all painted in the dark - after all, these are bats we're talking of.
My grandchildren (3 and 5) have enjoyed this book again and again..,
and will for time to come, I'm sure.

5 out of 5 stars Sweet sweet book.......2007-07-04

I'm not a gifted writer, but I certainly think this book was well written. The prose flows, very soothingly, making it a favorite "last book" before tuck-in. The pictures are sweet, and detailed enough to inspire my child to look further, ask questions, and add to the story on his own. It also lends itself to skipping ahead, or around, without disturbing the story too much, making it good when he's impatient, or he wants to read it himself. We've been reading this book since he was 18 months old, and it has grown with him.

I only wish it came in a board book, because little hands can be hard on soft pages! (buy two copies!)

5 out of 5 stars Pull up the drink umbrellas, and don't forget your moontan lotion.......2007-07-01

I loved this book from the first moment I heard about it. One Saturday morning, I happened to be out and about. NPR was talking about a great summer read and I heard this wonderful book read aloud on the air. I pulled over to savor the lyrical prose and was smitten! The pictures - so wonderfully presented were described on air - when I finally got my hands on this special gem I was head over heels!

A perfect read aloud - great for little people and big people!

Don't miss the artwork and the activities that occur when the beachcombers go home!

5 out of 5 stars so charming.......2007-06-15

My daughter already loved bats but the book was the frosting on the cake for sure. It is just charming - cute, detailed pictures and fun to read.

5 out of 5 stars A rollicking, fun rhyme blends with fun drawings and appealing bat-inspired facts to create a winning tale........2007-06-11

Brian Lies illustrates and writes the whimsical, appealing BATS AT THE BEACH, a fun celebration of bats who spend the night at their favorite beach. A rollicking, fun rhyme blends with fun drawings and appealing bat-inspired facts to create a winning tale.
Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • LOVE!
  • Magical writing that brings to life characters in search of love and personal identity. Very highly recommend to all readers
  • These stories changed my life!
  • apple pie a la mode indeed!!
  • Young adults deserve better (so do adults)
Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books
Francesca Lia Block
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & MagicScience Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Block, Francesca LiaBlock, Francesca Lia | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0064406970
Release Date: 2007-01-02

Amazon.com

Lanky lizards! The slinkster-cool novels in Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series have finally been compiled into one delicious volume. All of the ethereal, mesmerizing titles are here--Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop--together like the big, beautiful family described on their pages. Block's unique, poetic style immediately draws readers into an intoxicating magical-realist world populated by empathetic, original characters (as well as a few ghosts, fairies, and genies): "He kissed her. A kiss about apple pie à la mode with the vanilla creaminess melting in the pie heat. A kiss about chocolate, when you haven't eaten chocolate in a year. A kiss about palm trees speeding by, trailing pink clouds when you drive down the Strip sizzling with champagne. A kiss about spotlights fanning the sky and the swollen sea spilling like tears all over your legs."

We cheer for these young women and men as they struggle with the universal trials of growing up, finding love, and letting go--all within the vivid, glittering, urban embrace of Los Angeles. Block's stories about finding yourself, being true to your dreams, and believing in what might seem impossible will inspire teens and adults alike with the resounding messages of hope and the transformative power of love. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

Francesca Lia Block's luminous, postmodern fairy tales chronicle the thin line between fear and desire, pain and pleasure, cutting loose and holding on in a world where everyone is vulnerable to the most beautiful and dangerous angel of all: love.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars LOVE!.......2007-08-11

All five novels are truly exceptional. Francesca Lia Block has a wonderful mind and a very unique writing style that is so welcome in this world of the normal traditional authors of today. I recommend the Wheetzie Bat books to anyone who wants to read something captivating and perhaps even a bit 'out there' (but in the best of ways.)

5 out of 5 stars Magical writing that brings to life characters in search of love and personal identity. Very highly recommend to all readers.......2007-08-11

Generations of young women and their lovers and friends grow up surrounded by genies, by love, and by the magical world of urban Los Angeles. Dangerous Angels is a compilation of the original Weetzie Bat book series, five novels that make up stories two generations--their love stories, deaths, births, and artistic adventures. The text is vivid, rich with sensual description and the hipster-cool slang that surrounds Weetzie's family. The magical-realist style intertwines angels, genies, and spirits with real-world issues of finding and nurturing love, having sex, creating identity and independence, being gay, and coping with death. The result is a remarkably engrossing, readable, and magical writing style that brings to life both Los Angeles and the characters, and deals with difficult, even controversial issues, that are rarely found in other young-adult books. I very highly recommend it.

It is difficult to do a plot summary of the Dangerous Angels books because the compilation contains so many books and the plot of each book is secondary to all the other factors that make up the text. In one story, Weetzie finds love for herself and for her best friend when a genie grants her wishes. In others, Weetzie's daughters struggle with their own identity and the power and music of their group of friends. In another, Weetzie's best friend comes to terms with his homosexuality. The plots are important, but what matters more is what character growth they prompt, what issues they deal with, and what text surrounds them.

The primary theme of the book is love--the most beautiful and most dangerous angel. Love, however, is mixed in with themes of personal identity, family, independence, and sexuality. The author does not skate over difficult and controversial issues, but neither does she subject them to lengthy angsting. Instead, life difficulties, like its genies, are presented as facts and are treated with the same open acceptance. In my opinion, this makes the book a wonderful and eye-opening read for young adults that is still relevant to grown-ups.

Finally, the delight of Dangerous Angels is the writing style. It is urban magical-realistic and richly, sensually detailed. Action, both of the characters and of the overall plot, is presented in short direct sentences. Description is also presented in short direct sentences. But in both cases, characters act and the world appears in ways that are distinctly magical. The end effect is a quickly-paced, no-nonsense style that nonetheless makes the books sing with lush description and very real magic. It makes very little sense to discuss the style when it so easy to simply quote it. One example: "Fifi's house was a Hollywood cottage with one of those fairy-tale roofs that looked like someone has spilled silly sand. There were roses and lemon trees in the garden and two bedrooms inside the house--one painted rose and the other aqua. The house was filled with plaster Jesus statues, glass butterfly ashtrays, paintings of clowns, and may kinds of coasters. Weetzie and Dirk had always loved the house." The writing style is a joy to read and sweeps the reader into the magical world of Weetzie and her family, bringing to life their stories and their challenges. It is unlike any other book you'll read, and I highly recommend it to all readers of all age groups.

5 out of 5 stars These stories changed my life!.......2007-05-22

I first picked up Witch Baby when was thirteen..then promptly devoured the rest. Weetzie Bat, Goat Guys, Baby Be-Bop, Missing Angel Juan..... The stories transport you to a modern fairytale land. When I was growing up, these stories inspired me to pursue my fairytale dreams in this midst of harsh realities.

My favorites change as I travel through different phases of my life...Angel Juan is one of the best breakup stories ever! Goat Guys addresses the problems of being swept up in the material world and finding balance. Baby Be-Bop is about discovering your true self through your family. Weetzie and Witch Baby give two different perspectives...having a boyfriend/having babies, or being an outcast/finding where you belong.

Block transport her readers into a sensual world where genies and angels mix and mingle with the "real" people. She ask us to see the beauty beyond the hurt and ugliness of their lives. She lovingly paints a picture of modern day Los Angeles, all the while reminding us that the common denominator in our daily lives is love.

I can understand who some people might find these stories trite...Block goes off on fantasmagoric verbal riffing on every other page. She rhapsodizes about food, music, flowers, colors. If you enjoy Angela Carter or Colette, anyone who uses words like rich paint on a canvas...then you will find these stories satisfying as a Oki Dog Burrito.

5 out of 5 stars apple pie a la mode indeed!!.......2007-04-24

i can't even begin to describe how much i love this book. i read it when i was about 15 or 16. i was trolling through the public library and saw all the weetzie bat books but they were all individual. i fell in love. some time later i went back and i found them in one big, fat collection and i was completely thrilled.

there's such a wonderful dreaminess to this book. the writing is so beautifully detailed. even now, almost 8 years later, i'm still constantly reading it. this book has a permanent place in my heart.

1 out of 5 stars Young adults deserve better (so do adults).......2007-01-27

The characters and the story are shallow, totally lacking in depth. The writer seems to free associate and wanders from page to page. It was like reading a comic book plot or worse.I read books for my teens before they read them. This book was a huge disappointment. It is not appropriate in other ways either. I do not recommend it at all.
Bat Ode (Phoenix Poets Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • solace in poetry
  • another keeper
Bat Ode (Phoenix Poets Series)
Jeredith Merrin
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

20th Century20th Century | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0226520587

Book Description

The poems in Bat Ode speak to the way we live today and how it feels to occupy such a mongrel, fast-changing, postmodern world. Yet rather than breaking with the linguistic or poetic past, these poems seem to renew it with a fresh vision. Jeredith Merrin's sense of humor, her formal poise, her heart and wit, situate her as one of our most convincing social poets.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars solace in poetry.......2001-12-01

In a strange blessing of timing, I received Merrin's latest while struggling to let my 18yr-old daughter leave home. I was sceptical; what could this poet possibly say that I wasn't living through?
Then, from "Long Distance", "Lately, my daughter and I speak/by way of cats ... stiff-legged, she steps away." How artfully, I thought, she's rendered the messy, emotional business of letting your daughter go. In a fit of jealousy, I put the book away.
After Sept. 11, all my novels, music, videos seemed meaningless. I sought solace in poetry. From the generous inclusiveness of "Family Reunion", to the lament of her closing verses ("...the always available/possibility of changing your mind.") Merrin has reminded me that we are family - as long as we love - it ain't easy - but nothing matters more.
Poetry matters. words truly can heal, soothe, sometimes enlighten. And remember hope? That's what I feel after re-reading Bat Ode today.

5 out of 5 stars another keeper.......2001-08-28

i'm familiar with the poet's work from pre-_Shift_ and enjoyed _Shift_ muchly. so, with abandon i glommed _Bat Ode_ from amazon, even splurging on the hardcover edition. another keeper. in vain have i tried to post a short review of this work while i thought of something more, uh, more. it doesn't seem to take, "Merrin renders the quotidian exquisite". then while google-poking on her name about i found this phrase re Elizabeth Bishop, "transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary". looks like i'm in synch w/someone out there. for a glimpse at the possibilities see http://www.poets.org/poems/poems.cfm?prmID=2170 - recommended.
Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Serious research, must read
  • A Frightening World
  • An Important Book
  • A true Zionist and a Manipulator
  • White birthrate to blame, not Islam
Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis
Bat Ye'Or , and Bat Yeor
Manufacturer: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 083864077X

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Serious research, must read.......2007-05-08

After reading negitive reviews of this book I decided to read it. And I am glad I did. Among other things, the book explains very thoroughly how anti-Semitic bigotry has been cultivated in Europe, mainly in France, during the last 30 plus years. The book's author did excellent job researching roots of European antipathy toward the U.S. and utmost hatred toward Israel. She shows how ridiculous and at the same time how wide-spread is joint Arab-European modern mythology about Islam's great contribution to world's science, art, and the cause of human rights, while in fact Islam remains the most backward, intolerant, and barbaric ideology ever created on this planet.

The book includes a very impressive list of appedices (real documents), notes, and bibliography. I think it should be a required reading for anyone interested in the subject.

5 out of 5 stars A Frightening World.......2007-03-10

Bat Ye'or writes intelligently about recent developments and changes in the world. Sixty years after the end of the Second World War and the Holocaust, it seems that we are once again facing a perilous situation in Europe. Through the ages, more people have been killed in the name of religion than for any other reason. Will we face that reality once again in the twenty-first century? Her book is definitely worth reading.

5 out of 5 stars An Important Book.......2007-01-10

This is an important book that eveyone with an interest in Islam and politics must read. This book explains in detail how and why Europe is undergoing a process of Islamization. Not just allegations, the author fills the book to overflowing with references, citations, and ample evidence to prove her point. This is required reading.

1 out of 5 stars A true Zionist and a Manipulator.......2006-12-22

I have never read such an exagerated propaganda in all my life's reading and academic studies. Bat Ye'or needs to repent and to apologize to the world especially to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ye'or must have undergone some sort of trauma as a child with a bit of brainwashing by the zionist movement. I do not recommend anyone to invest in this unscholarly crap. The book trashes everyone except the zionist movements and its supporters. I wish I could rate this book a zero rather than 1 star. Ye'or and her followers need psychological and mental help. If you do not believe me read the book with a critical eye and you will question her credibility and dismiss her as a fanatical zionist for blood.

1 out of 5 stars White birthrate to blame, not Islam.......2006-12-02

The book is based on false premises and a lack of broader understanding. There wouldn't be millions of Muslims in Europe if the White Europeans didn't have such a low birthrate. The Muslims arrive there for work and those countries need their labor. Are Arabs to blame because Euros refuse to have children? I don't think so.
"This one's for you": Poems for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Ceremony
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • So unexpectedly helpful!
  • Worth every penny
  • Came Just in Time
  • Bar Mitzvah poems for the poetically challenged
  • GREAT HELP FOR US
"This one's for you": Poems for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Ceremony
Marcy Schwarz
Manufacturer: Marcy Schwarz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0974293407

Book Description

Over 80,000 Jewish adults suffer unnecessary stress and anguish each year. Why? They are planning their 40,000 Jewish children's Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties. Part of the planning includes the all-important Candle Lighting Ceremony. It is this ceremony that is a major source of tremendous stress - creating the poems to be recited by the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child while calling honored guests up to light candles.

Of course, many books have been written about the Bar Mitzvah, from service to celebration. Some even refer to the Candle Lighting Ceremony, but none include poems for the child to recite. This is the first book published with already written, ready to use poems. Included are poems for:
memorial, welcome, grandparents, aunts and uncles, generic family, gentile relatives, absent guests, family friends, child's friends, siblings, parents, parent to child and good luck candles. Written in a humorous tone, "This one's for you" literally walks parents through the entire Candle Lighting Ceremony from "Who to do we ask?" to "The Big Blow Out." It covers every nerve-wracking detail of the entire ceremony. It even has printed worksheets to make the whole selection/preparation process easy.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars So unexpectedly helpful!.......2006-08-11

I was given a quote of $350 to have my son's candle lighting ceremony written for us. We were blown away!! Such a lot of money. So we heard about this book and took a chance hoping it would help us. WE LOVED IT!. It was perfect for us. Together we sat down with our son and in one evening created the perfect ceremony. Thank you Author. We will recommend it to our friends that are also doing the Bar Mitzvah circut now.

5 out of 5 stars Worth every penny.......2006-03-22

This book helped make our candle lighting ceremony memorable. I wanted to write my own personalized poems for each special person who we wanted to light a candle and this book was the answer. Using the guidance provided by the book, I was able to write very special poems. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to write their own candlelighting poems!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Came Just in Time.......2006-01-25

This is a great book that helped my daughter and wife to prepare for the candle lighting ceremony at my daughter's Bat Mitzvah. We receive the book in just 2 days and overnight they wrote the whole ceremony. We were very impressed.

4 out of 5 stars Bar Mitzvah poems for the poetically challenged.......2005-08-20

I was a little shocked by the price, especially given that the book is more of a bound "booklet". However, for the poetically challenged and stressed out mom of a Bar Mitzvah to be, I was able to easily create the poems with some help and input from my son. So, my conclusion ... it was money well spent.

5 out of 5 stars GREAT HELP FOR US.......2005-07-12

This book really helped make it easier for us to write our son's candle lighting ceremony. The poems were wonderfully funny and sentimental. Everyone loved them! Being our first Bar Mitzvah, the author's directions made it very easy for us to understand the whole procedure.
We would recommend this book to anyone having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and concerned over creating the candle lighting cereomy.
WE LOVED IT and gave it to our friends who are having an affair soon.
Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management

    Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0801884993

    Book Description

    Although bats are often thought of as cave dwellers, many species depend on forests for all or part of the year. Of the 45 species of bats in North America, more than half depend on forests, using the bark of trees, tree cavities, or canopy foliage as roosting sites. Over the past two decades it has become increasingly clear that bat conservation and management are strongly linked to the health of forests within their range.

    Initially driven by concern for endangered species -- the Indiana bat, for example -- forest ecologists, timber managers, government agencies, and conservation organizations have been altering management plans and silvicultural practices to better accommodate bat species. Bats in Forests presents the work of a variety of experts who address many aspects of the ecology and conservation of bats. The chapter authors describe bat behavior, including the selection of roosts, foraging patterns, and seasonal migration as they relate to forests. They also discuss forest management and its influence on bat habitat. Both public lands and privately owned forests are considered, as well as techniques for monitoring bat populations and activity.

    The important role bats play in the ecology of forests -- from control of insects to nutrient recycling -- is revealed by a number of authors. Bat ecologists, bat conservationists, forest ecologists, and forest managers will find in this book an indispensable synthesis of the topics that concern them.

    MitzvahChic: How to Host a Meaningful, Fun, Drop-Dead Gorgeous Bar or Bat Mitzvah
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • can get all this info on their website for free
    • Getting back to the Ritual
    • Spiritual Meaning to your Mitzvah
    • Absolutely essential!
    • Indispensible
    MitzvahChic: How to Host a Meaningful, Fun, Drop-Dead Gorgeous Bar or Bat Mitzvah
    Gail Anthony Greenberg
    Manufacturer: Fireside
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    4. "This one's for you": Poems for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Ceremony "This one's for you": Poems for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Ceremony
    5. Putting God On The Guest List: How To Reclaim The Spiritual Meaning Of Your Child's Bar Or Bat Mitzvah Putting God On The Guest List: How To Reclaim The Spiritual Meaning Of Your Child's Bar Or Bat Mitzvah

    ASIN: 0743284925

    Book Description

    An indispensable, modern-day guide to planning the perfect bar or bat mitzvah, celebrating substance and style

    There used to be only two approaches to the bar or bat mitzvah party -- a low-key event that reflects the solemnity of this sacred rite of passage or a big bash that has no connection to the religious service. For many, it was an impossible dilemma. Will a big bash trivialize and overshadow the bar or bat mitzvah experience? Will too much spirituality suck the life out of an otherwise fabulous party?

    MitzvahChic is the first book that proves that if you want a truly amazing experience, you can and must have it all! Blending meaningful Jewish elements with high-style contemporary party planning, this inspiring and useful guide will show you how to have the ultimate bar or bat mitzvah -- a profoundly moving service followed by an unforgettable party. The MitzvahChic approach also shows how to honor your child in a big way, rather than reducing him or her to an overused pop culture theme or a single cliché: He's into baseball! She loves horses!

    This must-have guide gives advice on the major decisions, the basics of the service, and the party details that really matter. It also features:

    A practical guide to all things mitzvah from the Torah to the tablecloth, MitzvahChic will help create a beautiful, powerful, resonant, and unforgettable rite of passage.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars can get all this info on their website for free.......2007-10-08

    I was disappointed with this book. The author makes a lot of suggestions but does not give concrete information for most of them. The section on decorating for a party was ridiculous. She tells you how she had three parties for her son for the price of one big party...to me it sounded like she spent as much on each party as I want to spend on just one party for my daughter. She seems a bit out of touch with reality. One thing that was unique and interesting about this book is that she describes the torah readings and gives you the dates that they will be read each year. With this information, you can try to schedule your child's bar or bat mitzvah around a torah portion that you find interesting. That is the main reason I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2. Save your money tho, all of this info can be had for free at [...]

    5 out of 5 stars Getting back to the Ritual.......2007-09-22

    This was a great book. I don't feel so pressured now to have to put on such an elaborate show. We will make the Oneg a bit nicer than a typical oneg and have a Simcha Quilt(instead of candlelighting) during the oneg. Kids party at grandma's house with fun activities just for the Bar Mitzvah boy and his friends.

    5 out of 5 stars Spiritual Meaning to your Mitzvah.......2007-03-22

    I loved this book!! As I started to plan this Bar Mitzvah I knew that I needed some guidance. I never imagined I would find so much perfect information in one book. The ideas on combining a truly a spiritual occasion with a terrific party were perfect. The way the ideas are presented makes so much sense. You'll love the easy to follow guidelines and suggestions. I can't tell you how many of the ideas actually made me get a lump in my throat! The book gives you a sense of confidence that even if you have never planned a party before - you can do this and really do it with meaning and fun. A must read!

    5 out of 5 stars Absolutely essential!.......2007-03-13

    I'm so sorry that another reviewer didn't find this book helpful, because to me it was essential. It was the first B'nai Mitzvah book I bought and I was so glad I did. It opened my eyes to a lot of options that I wasn't aware of, and will, in the end, make our Bat Mitzvah so much more meaningful. I was unaware that you could select your mitzvah date based on Torah parsha. When I was younger, you were just given a date close to your birthday. The author of this book categorizes and explains each Torah portion for you. After reading them, I handed the book over to my daughter and said, "Find something that is meaningful to you." She read each section and picked one that she connected most with. We let her select her Bat Mitzvah date, and as a result, she is more aware and involved than most kids are at this point, and we are still at the very beginning of planning. She intends to carry the theme of her parsha into her mitzvah project, her D'var Torah, and her party. Did you know that you could twin with a child of the holocaust and honor him/her at your child's B'nai Mitzvah? Did you know that you could support a Jewish family in Ethiopia for one month, just by buying a tallit bag that they embroider? This is the kind of thing that is detailed in this book. Be forewarned: although this book does touch (briefly) on day vs. night affairs and selecting a venue, this is not a "how to make a hockey stick entrance way for my kid's hockey-theme Bar Mitzvah" book. MitzvahChic transcends that and looks deeper into the messages of the ceremony and how it fits in with your child's jewish coming-of-age. It then takes those messages and ultimately carries them through to themes and centerpieces, etc. for the party. Our copy of MitzvahChic has been lovingly highlighted, dog-eared and is always close at hand. I am so glad I found this valuable resource and feel that although we still have some time to go, that this book has already elevated my daughter's Bat Mitzvah into something very special.

    5 out of 5 stars Indispensible.......2007-02-20

    I've been a committed and identified Jew all my life, and have raised my children joyfully in the tradition. Yet MitzvahChic taught me things I had never known -- about the ceremony itself and about our heritage. Even for people who are not planning a bar or bat mitzvah, this is a wonderful resource. Compact synopses of the Torah portions, suggestions for all kinds of mitzvot you can do, and even a section helping the non-Jewish family members feel welcome and up the learning curve. In fact, that last section has been a good one for many of my Jewish friends who didn't know much about Judaism's history or practices. This is a gem!
    Stellaluna
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A beautifully illustrated, lovely story that my daughter adores!
    • Stellaluna
    • One of my favorite books!
    • Stellaluna
    • Stellaluna, we adore you!
    Stellaluna
    Janell Cannon
    Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0152802177

    Amazon.com

    Baby bat Stellaluna's life is flitting along right on schedule--until an owl attacks her mother one night, knocking the bewildered batlet out of her mother's loving grasp. The tiny bat is lucky enough to land in a nest of baby birds, but her whole world has just turned upside down. Literally. Stellaluna's adoptive bird mom accepts her into her nest, but only on the condition that Stellaluna will act like a bird, not a bat. Soon Stellaluna has learned to behave like a good bird should--she quits hanging by her feet and starts eating bugs. But when she finally has an opportunity to show her bird siblings what life as a bat is like, all of them are confounded. "How can we be so different and feel so much alike?" one asks. "And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?" asks another. "I agree," Stellaluna responds. "But we're friends. And that's a fact." Anyone who has ever been asked to be someone they're not will understand the conflicts--and possibilities--Stellaluna faces. This gorgeously illustrated book is sure to be an all-time favorite with readers, whether they've left the nest or not. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustration from Stellaluna, © 1993 by Janell Cannon, reproduced by permission of Harcourt Brace & Company) (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

    Book Description

    Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. Two pages of notes at the end of the story provide factual information about bats. “Delightful and informative but never didactic; a splendid debut.”--Kirkus Reviews

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A beautifully illustrated, lovely story that my daughter adores!.......2007-05-10

    This was worth the purchase. My daughter has been in love with Stellaluna since the moment she discovered it at the library. She asked for this book for Easter in lieu of an Easter basket. It's a beautifully illustrated storybook. The story itself is wonderful; being both educational on a rudimentary level concerning the nature of fruit bats and so forth and for the moral of the story which is really about being true to oneself and living your life according to who you really are. We highly recommened this children's book.

    5 out of 5 stars Stellaluna.......2007-03-10

    This is one of the greatest childrens books I have read for a mostly unpopular animal. (A bat) It was warm, humorous, and delightful. A must read for all ages.

    5 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books!.......2007-03-02

    I love the book Stellaluna. It is a great book to read. I have always been a bat lover when I was young. I still love bats. I would love to have a pet bat! This is a great book and I hope you'll enjoy it!

    5 out of 5 stars Stellaluna.......2007-01-17

    Fabulous book with a beautiful storyline & lesson to present to Children (old & young!)Illustrations are really beautiful and my grandaughter loves this book.

    5 out of 5 stars Stellaluna, we adore you!.......2006-12-29

    Great book! Filled my 2 1/2 year old with questions and curiosity! What more can I ask for?

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